Surely a wind up??????

Why?

Most Leeds fans, myself included, would have him as the 3rd person down on the team sheet after Sinfield and McGuire. Remember he is a 2nd rower playing centre and on the whole he has done a damn good job there.

Why's it a windup?!

He's played in 5 positions for Leeds over the past year and has been outstanding in them all, not to mention he's scored tries in the two showpiece finals this year.

It's a classic case of a player going unnoticed because they don't do the flashy stuff.

Have you watched the 2nd half of the Super League season this year? I'd be surprised if he's first choice but It's hardly outrageous for him to be in the squad since he covers second row, loose forward and centre.

Yes and he looks like a second row playing , just what we need to break down the defences we are going to face!

Ha. Three Leeds fans defending the call straight away.

I defended him earlier in the season when other Wigan fans were calling him cack - I said that he would go pretty well in the NRL but is never an International quality player. I don't believe his form is good enough for selection either.

This season he's played centre, second row, wing, loose forward and stand off for Leeds at various stages and been impressive in them all. You need players in the squad capable of playing in a number of positions which is why he's been included.

He is consistently one of Leeds top performers every week, so if his form isnt good enough to be selected from a Championship winning side, very few other players should be there too.

And also, as I just put in the other thread, why does every one think he will be picked as a centre? He is the best 2nd row forward at Leeds and always looks dangerous with ball in hand when he's there. To me he's the 3rd person I pick after Sinfield and Peacock.

His form does merit being selected for the squad as a backup who can cover several positions. He won't be first choice for centre, of course he won't, that'll be 2 out of Reed, Cudjoe & Yeaman. He also won't be first choice second row, with Ellis, Heighington, Westwood etc ahead of him.
So what's the objection to having him as backup in the squad? If Joel Tomkins wasn't so disloyal to the sport and had been selected I doubt you would be complaining despite the similarities between the 2 players.

As a Leeds fan, I think this is pretty much right (although his form is good at the moment). He's a very good club player who can play several positions. He's much, much better than opposing fans think.

He does however have rocks for brains, and the dumb penalties/impossible passes that he still too often concedes will hurt at international level. Even as a fan of Ablett's I struggle to imagine him in an international jersey.

That said: I'm pleased for him as a good, honest squad player who will give his all and is at least better than Jon Wilkin.

If Joel Tomkins would have been "available" then I doubt Ablett would have been in the squad.

I don't think he's been picked for a starting 17 spot anywhere. He's just in there for utility value for me. I'd be surprised if he started at centre, he's isn't good enough. But he does cover centre, back row and bench spots if we have injuries.

What do you expect us to do? Not defend the call, say that hes crap and doesnt deserve it? I think we know our players better than you.

Could be worse, we could have players turning their back on club and country for ££££££££££££££

Having watched every game of his this season, it's well deserved.

Not sure why you think it's a wind up?

Decent cover for a few positions, but I can't see him making the 17 unless we have some injuries.

I would argue that could be applied to the majority of the squad